On Legends of Tomorrow‘s season finale (S7E13), the gang were enjoying their new lives, when Gary burst into the manor dimension from 30,000 BC, explaining Evil Gideon tried to kill him after he found out Gwyn had been given an Alun robot. While trying to prevent Gwyn from getting himself killed swapping Alun with his double, and stop Evil Gideon once and for all, the Legends encountered the western front’s fixer, one Michael “Mike” Jon Carter, aka Booster Gold (Donald Faison.)
1. This is Wild (Even for Legends)
We pick up with Sara and Ava as they plan their baby, whom Ava will carry (she’s whittled down the list of potential donors to 50): however, Gary’s alien senses cause him to notice Sara is already pregnant. He explains the species she got her alien DNA from can reproduce simply by kissing, meaning Ava impregnated her at some point during their retirement. Now, look, this is how a very young child would imagine reproduction works, OK? Secondly, I don’t care how stupid it is, Sara’s reaction to being pregnant, and Gary’s struggle to keep it a secret, as well as the problem of her losing her powers to the fetus, was a great dynamic. It all culminated in Sara’s terrific rant when everything went completely wrong as usual: it was just hysterical seeing our normally unflappable captain lose it thanks to her hormones, and refreshing to have her be completely honest, and give voice to how we feel, about this utter shitshow.
2. I Like Mike
I am very grateful that Booster Gold has finally joined the show (I would’ve never forgiven the writers if they had been giving out red herrings), and delighted to see Donald Faison is playing him — between Clueless and Scrubs, I think it’s safe to say he’s a very underrated comedy actor. I was also pleasantly surprised he was such a big part of this episode, as everything in the run-up to it seemed to imply he’d only appear at the end. Faison brings so much charm to Buster- sorry, Booster, that you overlook the fact he stole the Waverider, briefly stranding our heroes in 1916 (though in fairness, he was understandably angry after Gwyn explained there’s no point in protecting Alun’s death, and that the presumably earlier iteration of the Time Masters were yanking him around.) His selfishness will make for an entertaining dynamic should the show be renewed.
3. Evil Clone Time/Saved by the Power of Friendship
A hardened Gideon becomes distraught on learning the Legends have turned on her, leading Evil Gideon to offer pulling an Eternal Sunshine, and to upload an edited version of her memories — with no emotional attachments — to a new android body, which will allow her to better dedicate herself to her duties. However, Astra and Spooner sneak aboard the Waverider with Zari’s time courier, and make her understand they weren’t mad, just disappointed, and still love her.
To stop the trio from resetting Rip Hunter’s protocol (which states she must learn from humans, and not the other way around), Evil Gideon downloads her mind into the body instead, and goes Terminator on them. Gideon finally outwits her ruthless counterpart by deactivating the ship’s stealth cloak, forcing the A.I. to destroy herself and the ship to prevent more harm to the timeline; however, our girls survive thanks to Astra’s magic, which she uses to effortlessly repair the Waverider. Gotta love magic — and the strength platonic love can embue — right?
4. Goodbye Nate
Nate gets injured by mustard gas while rescuing Alun, causing him to use up all his Steel essence protecting them. Thankfully he doesn’t die (huge sigh of relief from yours truly there), but he realizes he’s been given an early retirement, and gracefully exits after Zari gives him her amulet, so he can visit her counterpart whenever he wants. (Between that, and Sara losing her powers, there are far less powered people on the team than ever.) Nick Zano, who joined the show at the start of season two, has been on the show for longer than anyone other than Sara, so it is very bittersweet, but I feel OK with it, really: he had a good run, and it’ll be interesting to see how others step into his role as the team’s deputy captain (as well as the straight white man they need whenever they’re in the past.) Hopefully Zari 1.0 can still come out of the totem to hang around too.
Continued below5. Cliffhanger Time!
The Waverider returns, and the crew gets back on board expecting an explanation, a shower and so on, only for it turn out to be a set-up by Booster Gold’s captors. Damn, the Legends really can’t catch a break can they? Speaking of which, the show’s not been officially renewed yet, so it may — like Seinfeld — end with the literal groan-inducing cliffhanger of everyone being in jail. I guess they could always resolve this story on The Flash (which would bring it full circle) or in a comic if it’s not renewed, but hopefully that won’t be necessary — you damn well bet I want to see the cast play out Sara’s pregnancy, Booster’s redemption, and Alun’s adjustment to the DC Universe on their own show. In any case, I expect it’ll be a while since we got back-to-back seasons (basically a normal season for other network shows), and everyone being imprisoned is as good a reason for their lengthy absence as any.
Bonus Thoughts:
– Founding Fathers are a popular target for time travelers (I know the feeling, I’m basically the guy from this Key & Peele sketch.)
– So what was up with the soldier Gwyn couldn’t remember consoling as he died? Was it just trauma, or the butterfly effect?
– Just wait until Astra’s fellow staff on Capitol Hill hear about her being arrested!
– Line of the week: “Oh no, does this mean I died?”
– Mmm, chocolate sauce… oh no, what if Gary gets Gideon pregnant!? Please use protection when foraging you too!
Well, that’s it from Legends (hopefully) until fall: take care everyone, and please stick around for my reviews of the similarly hilarious, weird and wonderful Resident Alien if you haven’t read them. And now for this week’s soundtrack selection:
